MBP Memory Upgrade question...

[Synergie]

Do I need to buy memory from the Apple store? 2x4GB cost 400.00?? I found Kingston memory with the exact same specs for 65.00 USD!!! And it says it's compatible with MBP!

If I use non apple memory will my laptop explode on me or something??

 

[ratzzo]

Any RAM brand will work with a Mac given it's of the proper type. You will want SO-DIMM 1066MHz PC3-8500 DDR3 or up to 1666MHz RAM if you are an owner of a 2011 Sandy Bridge architecture MBP.

Short answer: buy the Kingston RAM if compatible. Here's what I bought some time ago, worked wonders: http://cgi.ebay.es/King-ston-4GB-4-...Domain_186&hash=item3a66d2ebd1#ht_1539wt_1141

 

[Synergie]

So this will work then?

http://www.amazon.ca/Kingston-Modul...9UKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311896989&sr=8-1

 

[DennyMac]

I upgraded my 2011 MBP 13 inch with this 8GB set up. Works great and the price is right.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/8566DDR3S8GP/

 

[Synergie]

I upgraded my 2011 MBP 13 inch with this 8GB set up. Works great and the price is right.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/8566DDR3S8GP/

Pretty much same price.... I think I read on here somewhere that Apple actually uses Kingston anyway... so I will probably go with that one from Amazon.ca Plus with Amazon.ca I don't have to worry about customs. OWC is American is it not? I always worry about duty getting tacked on to things I order from the US!

Now to figure out if changing RAM on a MBP is as easy as changing it on PC laptops. I've done it on a PC laptop before... it was piece of cake. Then again, there was a special door you could unscrew... how much of a pain is it unscrewing the entire bottom of my MBP... or more specifically, how hard is it to get it screwed back on?? Changing the actual RAM I assume should be same as I did before on the PC laptop... two little clips holding it into the slot....

 

[ratzzo]

It's very easy. Just unscrew about 8 screws I think, and the cover comes right off. Make sure to touch something metal first though so as to eliminate static charge before you change RAM. Once the cover is removed, you will see the battery, a few other things and at the bottom, both RAM sticks.

Just to clarify, when you are ready to put the new sticks in, you have to sort of slide them in their slot first and then push down slightly for them to fit in place. Might seem odd or even scary (thought of broken sticks ) but ya, it's done that way.

Really straightforward. There are a lot of youtube videos on this but I personally find it a waste of time to watch - they take 15min to explain a 5 min procedure!

Good luck!

 

[Synergie]

It's very easy. Just unscrew about 8 screws I think, and the cover comes right off. Make sure to touch something metal first though so as to eliminate static charge before you change RAM. Once the cover is removed, you will see the battery, a few other things and at the bottom, both RAM sticks.

Just to clarify, when you are ready to put the new sticks in, you have to sort of slide them in their slot first and then push down slightly for them to fit in place. Might seem odd or even scary (thought of broken sticks ) but ya, it's done that way.

Really straightforward. There are a lot of youtube videos on this but I personally find it a waste of time to watch - they take 15min to explain a 5 min procedure!

Good luck!

Hmmm does that mean the battery will be easy to change on my own too? Mine's perfectly fine right now still getting over 6 hrs on almost full screen brightness, but just thinking down the road... LOL

 

[DennyMac]

Swapping out the memory is simple. It takes longer to remove the 10 screws that attach the back cover than it takes to change the memory. It took me about 10 minutes to change both the hard drive and the memory. I installed an OCZ Vertex III SSD and the 8GB memory at the same time and both were very simple upgrades.

 

[ratzzo]

Hmmm does that mean the battery will be easy to change on my own too? Mine's perfectly fine right now still getting over 6 hrs on almost full screen brightness, but just thinking down the road... LOL

Nope, don't touch it. It's not user replaceable since a few years back. You will have to have it replaced by an Apple Store if it ever goes bad as well. It voids the warranty, I believe, to even take it off the machine. Stay away!

 

[jdmmike]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231294 Just picked this up last week for my mid-2010 mbp. This works fine. I would recommend OWC, Crucial, or G-Skill for ram.